Village Schools of the Bible

A Devotional Study of Joshua
by Max Frazier, Jr.

AN ALTAR THAT ALMOST COST A WAR
Joshua 22

Have you ever done anything out of a spirit of innocence and had it backfire on you? Or you did something and your motivations were called into question? Have you ever been misunderstood? If you ever have, and I am sure that if you are like me this has happened more often than we care to remember, then you can identify with the scene in this chapter.

The big part of the conquest is now completed. Those two and a half tribes who had chosen their inheritance on the eastern side of the Jordan River now bid their leave from Joshua and the rest of Israel. They have completed their vows to help in the conquest of the land. Now it was time to return to their families who were living on the opposite side.

As these men approached the Jordan River, they bent down and gathered some boulders and made an altar there on the banks of the River. This memorial altar nearly created a disaster for Israel.

When the rest of Israel saw this altar of stones, the scenes at Peor (the adulterous affairs caused by Balaam) and at Achor (the thievery and cover-up of Achan) came to their minds. They remembered how God had judged the entire nation for these sins. And the leaders recognized their identity with these tribes who they believed were erring. They realized their responsibilities so as to avert the judgment of God. Their memories of the past encouraged them to tear down the altar of the present.

Our memories do serve a purpose to help us to keep our lives focused on God. And we are responsible for the actions of our brothers. For this alertness, the leaders of Israel are to be commended.

But these leaders of Israel acted with prudence rather than with anger. The easiest thing to have done would have been "to shoot first and to ask questions later," to have invaded Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh and to have destroyed them for suspected idolatry. But these leaders sought answers before sending in the army. They sought an explanation before giving condemnation.

It seems today we are too eager to condemn. A brother or sister does something we don't like and we are quick to grab the stones to throw. We dismiss attempts to seek for answers and explanations until after the stoning has occurred. By then it is too late. How much more prudent to seek out our suspected erring brother or sister and to share with them. Doing so may eliminate many heartaches and a great deal of pain to the body. Yes, it does take more time, but it really is time well spent.

Father, How careful we must be in dealing with sin. Yes, we must attack the sin, however, we must also guard the sinner. I must confess that too many times I have gathered stones rather than seeking answers. I have been quick to condemn without gathering all the information about a person's motivations for their actions. I am thankful for the story recorded in this chapter of Joshua because it reminds me that I should always investigate before I condemn. I pray the request of the Apostle James when he asks that he might be quick to listen and slow to speak. Father, to practice this will save many heartaches from occurring. In Christ's name I pray. Amen.

Joshua 20 Return to Table of Contents Joshua 23